Full or partial opening easy-open container end closure

ABSTRACT

A full or partial opening easy-open container end closure having indented into its central panel a large substantially peripheral score pattern encompassing a smaller score pattern. A rivet secures an opening tab to the panel section defined by the smaller score pattern in a manner that allows the tab to be manipulated to initially rupture a portion of either score pattern and to effect a partial or full opening in the end. At least one of the initial rupturings is not effectable by the tab nose directly rupturing a portion of one of the first or second score lines when the tab handle is lifted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of a portion of one of the score lines, but is effectable adjacent the rivet means when the tab nose is forced downwardly onto a portion of the removable second panel section when the tab handle is lifted upwardly away from the central panel.

United States Patent 1 Schane Nov. 20, 1973 [75] Inventor: AlvinMansfield Schane, Elmhurst,

[73 Assignee: American Can Company, Greenwich, Conn.

[22] Filed: Dec. 30, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 213,965

[52] U.S. Cl. 220/54 [51] Int. Cl. B65d 17/20 [58] Field of Search220/48, 54, 27, 47; 222/541 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,335,899 8/1967 Dunn 220/54 3,701,454 10/1972 Thorp 220/54 PrimaryExaminer-George T. Hall Att0rney-Robert P. Auber et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A full or partial opening easy-open container end closurehaving indented into its central panel a large substantially peripheralscore pattern encompassing a smaller score pattern. A rivet secures anopening tab to the panel section defined by the smaller score pattern ina manner that allows the tab to be manipulated to initially rupture aportion of either score pattern and to effect a partial or full openingin the end. At least one of the initial rupturings is not effectable bythe tab nose directly rupturing a portion of one of the first or secondscore lines when the tab handle is lifted in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of a portion of one of the score lines,but is effectable adjacent the rivet means when the tab nose is forceddownwardly onto a portion of the removable second panel section when thetab handle is lifted upwardly away from the central panel.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PA mum m 20 ms FIG.3 FI

FULL OR PARTIAL OPENING EASY-OPEN CONTAINER END CLOSURE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION Easy-open end closures for containers have become widelyknown and used on containers for beverages and solid foodstuffs. Suchends have typically included a substantially flat panel having a scoreline therein defining a removable portion of the panel, and a tabattached to a rivet in the removable portion, the tab being adapted tocause a rupturing of the score line and to allow the removable portionto be torn from the remainder of the panel.

Easy-open ends have been either of the full-open or partial-open type,the former being characterized by a removable panel portioncorresponding to substantially all of the central panel, and the latterby a removable portion somewhat smaller than the central panel.Typically, full-open ends have been used for containers for solidfoodstufis, while partial-open ends have been used for containers forbeverages.

Presently, there is a need for a single easy-open end closure that wouldincorporate both of th aforementioned full-opening and partial-openingfeatures. Such an end would provide heretofore unknown dispensingconvenience, for it would provide consumers of for example beverages,the option of v quickly pouring the beverage from a large opening ormore slowly dispensing it from a smaller opening in the end.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The easy-open end closure of thisinvention comprises a substantially flat central panel having therein afull-open first score line defining a removable first panel section anda partial-open second score line within and encompassed by the firstscore line, defining a movable second panel section. The end closurealso includes an opening tab having a rivet hole therein and a nose atone end and a handle at the other end thereof. A rivet means integralwith the second panel section secures the opening tab to the centralpanel. The rivet means and the tab are adapted to permit circumferentialrotation of the tab about the rivet. The tab can be manipulated toeffect initial rupture of either the first or second score lines and toeffect removal of either of said first or second panel sections. Atleast one of the initial rupturings is not effectable by the tab nosedirectly rupturing a portion of one of the first or second score lineswhen the tab handle is lifted in a direction substantially perpendicularto the direction of a portion of one of the score lines but iseffectable adjacent the rivet means when the tab nose is forceddownwardly onto a portion of the removable second panel section when thetab handle is lifted upwardly away from the central panel. In thepreferred embodiment, one initial rupturing is efi'ectable by the tabnose directly rupturing a portion of one of the first or second scorelines when the tab handle is lifted in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of a portion of one of the score lines,and the other initial rupturing is effectable by the tab nose beingforced downwardly onto a portion of the removable second panelsection.In another embodiment, both of the initial rupturings are efi'ectable bythe tap nose being forced downwardly onto a portion of either of therespective removable panel sections, and, in this embodiment, the endclosure includes a pair of score lines defining a tear strip which runsfrom adjacent the rivet means in the second panel section to thesubstantially peripheral first score line. One score line of the pairhas a shorter radius of curvature than the other of the pair and adjoinsthe first score ine, and the other score line of the pair runs alongsideth first score line and terminates in the first panel section. The tearstrip remains integral with and is removed with the first panel sectionwhen the tab handle is lifted, pivoted adjacent its rivet andmanipulated to effect a complete tearing of the pair of score linesdefining the tear strip. The score line of the pair that adjoins thesubstantially-peripheral first score line intersects the second scoreline, and, the intersecting lines, at least from adjacent the rivets totheir intersecting point, have greater residual panel material thanother portions of the other score lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of acontainer end closure of this invention having the nose of its openingtab overlying a portion of the full-open score line- FIG. 2 is a topplan view of the end closure of FIG. 1, after rupture of the full-openscore line and removal of the full-open section from the central panelof the end.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the end closure of FIG. 1, the tab havingbeen rotated so that its nose overlies a portion of the partial-opensection of the central panel of the end.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the end closure of FIG. 3 after removal ofthe partial-open panel section from the central panel of the end.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the end closure ofthis invention, the end having its tab aligned for removal of thepartial-open panel section from the central panel of the end.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the end closure of FIG. 5, after removal ofthe partial-open panel section from the central panel of the end.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the end closure of FIG. 5, the tab thistime aligned for removal of a spiral-out tear strip and the integralfull-open panel section of the central panel of the end.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the end closure of FIG. 7 after removal ofthe spiral-out tear strip and full-open panel section from the centralpanel of the end.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross section taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 5 andshows the depths of the various score lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings indetail, FIG. 1, shows a container end closure generally designated 10,having a substantially flat imperforate central panel 12 and aperipheral flange 14 interfolded with and seamed in a conventionalmanner to a can body (not shown). Central panel 12 has a pair ofcontinuous score lines impressed or indented into its upper surface.First score line 16 is substantially peripheral to central panel 12 anddefines a removable full-open first panel section 17. Wholly withinfirst panel section 17 and its score line is second score line 18 whichdefines a removable partial-open second panel section 19. The portion ofsecond score line 18 underlying the opening tab is shown as a dashedline. End closure 10 has affixed to it a substantially rigid opening tab20 having a nose 22 at the other end near the center point of centralpanel 12. Opening tab 20 is affixed to removable second panel section 19by means such as rivet 26 formed integral with second panel section 19and extending through a circular rivet hole (not shown) formed in theforward portion of opening tab 20.

FIG. 2 shows container end closure 10 after full-open first panelsection 17 (not shown) defined by first score line 16, has been removedfrom end closure 10 and from central panel 12. Removable partial-opensecond panel section 19 remains integral with and is removed willfull-open first panel section 17. First panel section 17 is removed fromcentral panel 12 of end closure 10 by raising or pulling tab handle 24upwardly away from central panel 12, in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the portion of first score line 16 underlying tab nose22. Such pulling action allows substantially rigid tab 20 to hinge orpivot adjacent rivet 26 and causes its nose 22to initially directlyrupture the underlying portion of first score line 16. Further pullingof tab handle 24 substantially diagonally upwardly and backwardly awayfrom the initial point of rupture causes first score line 16 to tearcontinuously and rather simultaneously and gradually back along asemicircular are on either side of removable first panel section 17until the entire roughly 360 of score line 16 is torn and tab 20 andfullopen first panel section 17 are detached and removed from endclosure 10 and central panel 12.

FIG. 3 shows opening tab 20 of container end closure 10 of FIG. 1rotated about 180 so that tab nose 22 overlies a portion of removablesecond panel section 19. When opening tab 20 is in this position, itsnose 22 cannot directly effect an initial rupture of a portion of one ofthe first or second score lines 16 and 18 when tab handle 24 is liftedin a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of theportions of the score lines. If tab handle .24 were lifted in such adirection, its nose would not overlie and could not come into contactwith such portions of the score lines. Initial rupture of second scoreline 18, defining removable partialopen second panel section 19, iseffected adjacent rivet means 26 when tab handle 24 is lifted upwardlyaway from central panel 12. When the tab is so lifted, it pivotsadjacent rivet 26 and tab nose 22 is forced downwardly onto anunderlying portion of second panel section 19. The lifting force exertedon tab 20 and transferred through rivet means 26 tears second score line18 adjacent rivet means and detaches a portion of second panel section19 from first panel section 17. Gradual pulling substantially diagonallyupwardly and backwardly away from the initial point of rupture adjacentrivet means 26 causes a continued tearing of second score line 18 backaway from the rivet area, until the entire teardrop-shaped second panelsection 19 is detached from end closure 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, when teardrop-shaped second 7 panel section 19 isremoved from within second score line 18, there is left a partial-openarea in first panel section 17, which remains intact with central panel12 of end closure 10.

FIGS. -8 show another embodiment of the container end closure of thisinvention. FIG. 5 shows a container end closure generally designated110,. having a substantially flat imperforate central panel 112 and aperipheral flange 114 interfolded with and seamed in a conventionalmanner to a can body (not shown). Central panel 112 has impressed orindented into its upper surface a substantially peripheral first scoreline 116 Also indented into the upper surface of central panel 1 12 is apair of tear strip score lines 128 and 130 defining a tear strip 132.Tear strip score line 128 at one end adjoins a portion of second scoreline 118 adjacent one side of rivet means 126, intersects a portion ofsecond score line 118 on the other (lower) side of rivet 126 and adjoinssubstantially peripheral first score line 1 16. Tear strip score line130 commencing where it adjoins second score line 118 adjacent rivet126, has a shorterradius of curvature than and runs substantiallyequidistantly from and alongside score line 128 and adjoining firstscore line 116 where it terminates in hook 134 in central panel 112. Thediscontinuity of tear strip score line 130 allows tear strip 132 toremain integral with full-open first panel section 117, defined by firstscore line 116, when first panel section 117 is removed from centralpanel 112 and from end closure 110.

FIG. 5 also shows opening tab 120 having a nose 122 at one end and ahandle 124 at its other end. Tab 120 is affixed to removable secondpanel section 119 of central panel 112 by mean of such as rivet 126formed integral with the second panel section and extending through acircular rivet hole (not shown) formed in the forward portion of tab120. Tab 120 is aligned for effecting a partial-opening in end'closure110. Nose 122 can be arcuately shaped to help effect initial rupture ofsecond score line 118 adjacent rivet means 126 in a manner to be laterexplained.

FIG. 6 shows container end closure 1 10 after partialopen second panelsection 119 defined by second score line 118, has been removed from theend closure and from central panel 112..First panel section 117, withmost of tear strip 132 intact, remains integral with central panel 112on end closure 110. Second panel section 119 is removed from the rest ofend closure by raising tab handle 124 upwardly in the conventionalmanner such that nose 122 is forced downwardly onto an underlyingportion of second panel section 119. As in FIG. 3, the upward pullingforce exerted on tab is transferred through rivet means 126 and causesan initial rupture and tearing of second score line 118 adjacent therivet and detaches a portion of second panel section 119 surrounding therivet. As previously explained in relation to FIG. 3, continued upwardpulling on tab 120 tears all of second score line 118 and detaches andremoves the teardrop-shaped partial-open second panel section 119 fromend closure 110. The length of second score line 118 from adjacent rivet126 where tear strip score line departs therefrom at least to the pointwhere it intersects tear strip score line 128 is a tracking score. Thatis, it is not impressed or indented as deeply into first panel section117 of central panel 112 as the rest of second score line 118 or of tearstrip score line 130. The tracking portion of line 118 therefore hasmore residual panel material therein and second score line 118 preventsthe score line from becoming accidentally ruptured when handle 124 isrupturing and tearing thereof and for removal of fullopen first panelsection 117 from end closure 110. The portion of tear strip score line128 running from adjacent one side of rivet 126 where it departs fromsecond score line 118 at least to the point where it intersects secondscore line 118 again on another side of rivet 134, also is a trackingscore which prevents tear strip score line 128 from becomingaccidentally ruptured when tab 120 is manipulated to tear second scoreline 118 and effect removal of second panel section 119 from end closure110. As previously mentioned in relation to FIG. 5, when tab handle 124is lifted, nose 122 is forced onto a portion of tear strip 132 definedby tear strip score lines 128 and 130 and mostly within second panelsection 119, and the force transferred through rivet 125 effects aninitial rupture of second score line 118 adjacent rivet 126 andsurrounding second panel section 119. Continued pulling on tab handle120 in the conventional heretofore explained manner causes a gradualrather simultaneous tearing along tear strip score lines 128 and 130 towhere score line 128 adjoins first score ine 116 from hich point tearingis along tear strip score line 130 and first score line 116 untiltearing of scoreline 130 terminates at hook 134, leaving an integralcentral panel portion or first panel section between hook 134 and tearstrip score line 128. Tearing of tear strip score line 128 continuesthrough the entirety of first score line 116 to allow for removal of theentire panel area within that line incluidng first and second panelsections 117 and 119 and tear strip 132. The aforementioned score lineconfigurations and integral arrangement allows the entire panel area tobe removed in one piece by manipulation of handle 124.

FIG. 8 shows container end closure 110 after the entire integralfull-open first panel section 117 defined by first score line 116including second panel section 119 and tear strip 132, has been removedfrom central panel 112 of end closure 110.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial cross section of full-open first panelsection 117 taken along line 99 of FIG. 5 and shows that, at the crosssection, tear strip score line 128 and second score line 118 aretracking scores and are not indented as deeply into first panel section117 as are tear strip score line 130 and second score line 1 18.

The thickness of residual panel material left in the tracking scores canbe any thickness sufficient to resist external or internal pressuressuch as from container contents, e.g. gas pressures from carbonatedbeverages. For example, for aluminum easy-open container end closureshaving central panels about 0.012 inch thick, regular score lines withresiduals of about 0.004 inch and tracking scores with residuals ofabout 0.006 inch have been found suitably resistant for end closureshaving scored configurations as shown in FIGS. 5-8, used on containersof low volume carbonated fruit drinks.

For contents with higher carbonation such as beer bev- 26 or 126. Astepped score pattern is, like a tracking score, one in which there ismore residual material therein than in the adjacent rest of the scoreline.

Score patterns utilizable with rivet means 26 or 126 can be any patternor configuration that will provide a dual opening feature according tothis invention. The rivet can be positioned at the junction of full andpartial open tear strips which run in various directions at variousangles from the rivet. As examples, the respective partial and full opentear strips can run from the rivet in a V shape or in an L shape or theycan run in opposite directions from each other. The configuration can beY shaped, wherein the rivet is positioned at the lowermost point in thelower leg of the Y and a single tear strip proceeds away from the rivetand then splits into the respective full and partial open tear strips.Still another configuration is one where the full and partial open tearstrips have a common score line and run alongside each other from therivet. In these configurations, tracking scores are utilized adjacentthe rivet to allow selective tearing of a desired tear strip withoutaccidental tearing of the other tear strip.

The full-open first score pattern or line preferably includes or coversas large a central panel area as possible and therefore preferably itsscore line is peripheral to central panel 12 or 112, though first scorelines less than fully peripheral and having a radius of curvature lessthan as shown in the drawings can be utilized.

The dual opening feature of this invention can be utilized on anyconventional steed or aluminum end closure having a substantially flator slightly concave or convex central panel profile. The opening tab canbe circumferentially rotated a full 360 or 180, 45, 30 or any degreeangle such that it allows the tab and its nose to be suitably alignedwith the particular score lines or panel sections desired to be rupturedand detached from the end closure. For the end closure of FIGS. 5-8,rotation preferably is 45". Stopping means such as beads protruding fromthe undersurface of the tab cooperating with dimples in the underlyingcentral panel, can be employed to limit the circumferential rotation ofthe opening tab to a particular degree angle required to provide adesired alignment. The opening tab can be of any suitable substantiallyrigid material and can be of any suitable configuration, though it isadvantageous to provide means such as a protruding nose, as in FIGS.1-4, for direct rupturings of underlying score lines, and an arcuatenose, as in FIGS. 5-8, when the nose is to be forced downwardly onto andto cause rupturing of a tear strip along its defining score lines.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages. the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. An easy-open container end closure comprising:

a substantially flat central panel;

a first score line in said central panel defining a removable firstpanel section;

a second score line in said central panel positioned wholly within saidfirst score line and defining a removable second panel section;

a substantially rigid opening tab having a rivet hole therein, a nose atone end and a handle at the other end thereof; and

rivet means integral with said second panel section extending throughsaid tab rivet hole and securing said tab to said second panel section,said rivet means and said tab being adapted and said rivet means beingpositioned such tha said tab can be circumferentially rotated about saidrivet and said tab can be manipulated to effect initial rupture ofeither of said first or second score lines and to effect removal ofeither of said first or second panel sections, at least one of saidinitial rupturings not being effectable by said tab nose directlyrupturing a portion of one of said score lines when said tab handle islifted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction ofsaid portion of said score lines, but being efl'ectable adjacent saidrivet means when said tab nose is forced downwardly onto a portion ofsaid removable second panel section when said tab handle is liftedupwardly away from said central panel.

2. The easy-open container end closure of claim 1 wherein one of saidinitial rupturings is effectable by said tab nose directly rupturing aportion of one of said first or second score lines and the other of saidrupturings is effectable by said tab nose being forced downwardly onto aportion of said removable second panel section.

3. The easy-open container end closure of claim 1 wherein both of saidinitial rupturings are efi'ectable by said tab nose being forceddownwardly onto a portion of either of the respective removable panelsections and, wherein a pair of score lines defining a tear strip runsfrom adjacent said rivet means in said second panel section to saidsubstantially peripheral first score line, one line of said pairintersecting as portion of said second score line and adjoining saidfirst score line, the other line of said pair having a shorter radius ofcurvature, and running substantially equidistantly from and alongsidesaid adjoined substantially peripheral first score line and terminatingin said removable first panel section, said intersecting lines, at leastfrom adjacent the rivet to the intersecting points, having less residualend closure material therein than other portions of said other scorelines, the configuration of said pair of score lines being such thatsaid tear strip remains integral with and is removed with said removablefirst panel section when said tab handle is lifted and pivoted adjacentits rivet and said tab is manipulated to effect a complete tearing ofsaid pair of score lines defining said tear strip.

1. An easy-open container end closure comprising: a substantially flatcentral panel; a first score line in said central panel defining aremovable first panel section; a second score line in said central panelpositioned wholly within said first score line and defining a removablesecond panel section; a substantially rigid opening tab having a rivethole therein, a nose at one end and a handle at the other end thereof;and rivet means integral with said second panel section extendingthrough said tab rivet hole and securing said tab to said second panelsection, said rivet means and said tab being adapted and said rivetmeans being positioned such tha said tab can be circumferentiallyrotated about said rivet and said tab can be manipulated to effectinitial rupture of either of said first or second score lines and toeffect removal of either of said first or second panel sections, atleast one of said initial rupturings not being effectable by said tabnose directly rupturing a portion of one of said score lines when saidtab handle is lifted in a direction substantially perpendicular to thedirection of said portion of said score lines, but being effectableadjacent said rivet means when said tab nose is forced downwardly onto aportion of said removable second panel section when said tab handle islifted upwardly away from said central panel.
 2. The easy-open containerend closure of claim 1 wherein one of said initial rupturings iseffectable by said tab nose directly rupturing a portion of one of saidfirst or second score lines and the other of said rupturings iseffectable by said tab nose being forced downwardly onto a portion ofsaid removable second panel section.
 3. The easy-open container endclosure of claim 1 wherein both of said initial rupturings areeffectable by said tab nose being forced downwardly onto a portion ofeither of the respective removable panel sections and, wherein a pair ofscore linEs defining a tear strip runs from adjacent said rivet means insaid second panel section to said substantially peripheral first scoreline, one line of said pair intersecting as portion of said second scoreline and adjoining said first score line, the other line of said pairhaving a shorter radius of curvature, and running substantiallyequidistantly from and alongside said adjoined substantially peripheralfirst score line and terminating in said removable first panel section,said intersecting lines, at least from adjacent the rivet to theintersecting points, having less residual end closure material thereinthan other portions of said other score lines, the configuration of saidpair of score lines being such that said tear strip remains integralwith and is removed with said removable first panel section when saidtab handle is lifted and pivoted adjacent its rivet and said tab ismanipulated to effect a complete tearing of said pair of score linesdefining said tear strip.